NEW YORK (AP) – Comments on the Pittsburgh Steelers by the AP Pro32 panel (ranking in parentheses):
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7)
Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 5): Steelers didn’t like way things ended with loss to Denver and came to camp with big chip on shoulders.
Bob Glauber (Newsday, 6): Rashard Mendenhall’s knee injury key blow to running game, but Ben Roethlisberger and stout defense are good enough to carry Pittsburgh back to playoffs.
Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune 6): If Ben Roethlisberger stays healthy, look out.
John Lynch (Fox Sports, 6): More change than normal for always-steady Steelers, but they are typically there at end and 2012 should be no different.
Dan Pompei (Chicago Tribune, 6): Steelers have new offense, but they still know how to play defense with best of them.
Chris Berman (ESPN, 7): Even Steelers fell under Tebow’s spell.
Rich Gannon (CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 7): Can Todd Haley and Big Ben make it work with two rookie starters along OL?
Clark Judge (CBSSports.com, 7): Steelers back on top of AFC North again.
Clifton Brown (Sporting News, 8): Advancing age of defense is concern, but Ben Roethlisberger will keep Steelers a playoff team.
Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 8): New offensive line is key. When will David DeCastro and Mike Adams get up to speed?
Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News, 11): With departure of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, look for Steelers to strike better offensive balance.
Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com, 11): How quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will take to new offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s system is unknown, but Steelers have certainly improved offensive line and return plenty of defensive talent.
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